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Worship

SermonStudio

The Greatest -- Deuteronomy 34:1-12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2004
First Lesson: Deuteronomy 34:1-12Theme: The GreatestCall To Worship
Taking The Plunge (What's An Ebenezer?) -- Joshua 3:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship
Choose One -- Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship (Psalm 70)
Might As Well Be You And Me -- Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship
Come Into The Ark -- Genesis 6:11-22; 7:24; 8:14-19, Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31), Matthew 7:21-29 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2004
Call To WorshipCome into the ark, it's raining outside.
My Get Up And Go Just Got Up And Went -- Genesis 12:1-9, Romans 4:13-25, Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship (Psalm 33:12)
Honest Abe And Sarai -- Genesis 18:1-15, Romans 5:1-8 -- Frank Ramirez -- 2004
Call To Worship
Desert Story -- Genesis 21:8-21, Romans 6:1b-11, Matthew 10:24-39 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship (Psalm 86:16-17)
Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 -- Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2004
First Lesson: Genesis 22:1-14 Theme: Letting Go Call To Worship
An Arranged Marriage -- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Frank Ramirez -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2004
Call To Worship (Psalm 45:6-7)

Drama

Sermon

SermonStudio

Yes, You -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- David O. Bales -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2007
Most congregations experience the joy of their former pastors visiting.
Rock Bottom -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- David O. Bales -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2007
Peter begins a new paragraph here by asking, "Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is g
Surprises -- 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 -- David O. Bales -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2007
You hope for good surprises, but many of life's surprises are the bad kind.
Power Sharing -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- David O. Bales -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2007
Modern people are fascinated with power.
Pentecost ... Again! -- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2007
They had been waiting so long for this.
So, Explain It To Me -- 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - A -- 2007
Trinity Sunday begins the second half of the church year.
Righteous! -- Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31) -- Steven E. Albertin -- Proper 4 | Ordinary Time 9 - A -- 2007
Perhaps some of you are old enough to remember one of the most popular musical groups of the mid 196
In Spite Of Evidence To The Contrary -- Romans 4:13-25 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A -- 2007
The scriptures talk about "faith" in many different ways.
Boast In Our Suffering -- Romans 5:1-8 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Proper 6 | Ordinary Time 11 - A -- 2007
The phone rings in the middle of the night.
Fido's Dilemma -- Romans 6:1b-11 -- Steven E. Albertin -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - A -- 2007
Fido is in the dirt gnawing on a bone. It is dry, brittle, depleted of marrow and moisture.

Children's sermon

SermonStudio

Call In The Clowns! -- Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: some horns, drums, and other party items
Happiness Is Finding The Lost -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a coin
It Costs To Follow Jesus -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a bank statement
The Humble Teddy -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a tire jack
What's In A Name? -- Luke 13:31-35 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: two brands of soda crackers like "Krispy" and "Zesta"
Charley Becomes Happy -- Luke 13:22-30 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a folding chair
Bearing Fruit For God -- Luke 13:1-9 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: some fertilizer
A Big Problem -- Luke 12:49-53 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a blackboard, some chalk, and a division problem
What Is Your Treasure? -- Luke 12:32-40 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a pocket knife, a baseball glove, and a doll
What Do You Do With The Leftover Jelly Beans? -- Luke 12:13-21 -- Wesley T. Runk
Object: a large bag of jelly beans

Worship Service

Preaching

SermonStudio

Christmas Day -- Isaiah 52:7-10 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2004
"My way is hid from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God" (Isaiah 40:27).
First Sunday after Christmas -- Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 2004
By specifying this text on the first Sunday after Christmas -- that day so often called "low Sunday,
New Year's Day -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Numbers 6:22-27 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- New Year's Day - A -- 2004
I cry at weddings.
Epiphany of Our Lord -- Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Epiphany of the Lord - A -- 2004
Isaiah 60-62 represents a sharp contrast with what has gone before in the preceding chapters of Thir
Baptism of Our Lord -- Isaiah 42:1-9 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 2004
The lectionary often begins a reading at the end of one poem and includes the beginning of another.
Second Sunday after Epiphany -- Isaiah 49:1-7 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A -- 2004
This is the second of the Servant Songs found in the prophecies of Second Isaiah, from the sixth cen
Third Sunday after Epiphany -- Isaiah 9:1-4 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - A -- 2004
Isaiah 9:1-4 is the first part of the lesson that is the stated Old Testament text for a Sunday on C
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany -- Micah 6:1-8 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A -- 2004
The important thing to remember about this text from Micah is that it represents a court case betwee
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - A -- 2004
In the church, we speak often of "salvation." But what do we mean by that term?
Transfiguration Sunday -- Exodus 24:12-18 -- Elizabeth Achtemeier -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2004
It seems clear that we have a different source beginning in verse 12 than that found in 24:1-11, bec

Stories

SermonStudio

Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Vision
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Vision
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Vision
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Vision
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Vision
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Word
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
Work
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
World We cannot have a better world without first having a better man. (Newsweek)
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
World The world is a globe that revolves on its taxes.
Open Doors: Illustrations, Quotes, And Quips -- Derl G. Keefer -- 2001
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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 5
28 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
29 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
26 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
29 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
30+ – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
22 – Sermons
120+ – Illustrations / Stories
24 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20+ – Worship Resources
21 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

SermonStudio

Richard E. Gribble, CSC
When Charlie Atlas was a teenager his parents purchased for him a dresser mirror that he placed in his bedroom. Before this, whenever Charlie needed to use a mirror, he went to the bathroom, but there he was only able to see his head and possibly his shoulders. When he got dressed up he used his parents' full-length mirror in their bedroom. Charlie was happy with his new mirror; he spent many hours in front of it.
Elizabeth Achtemeier
There is a strange belief abroad in our land at the present time, the belief that we cannot know God. Such a belief rises partly from a feeling of awe before the divine -- the feeling that God is so unfathomable, so other, so beyond our feeble understanding that we cannot possibly experience who he truly is in all of his fullness and perfection. And perhaps that is the reason that the Athenians have erected that idol "to an unknown God" that Paul encounters when he visits their city. They know that there is a god beyond them, but they cannot define him or name him.
Stan Purdum
(See Proper 23/Pentecost 21/Ordinary Time 28, Cycle C, for an alternative approach to vv. 1-12.)

Psalm 66 is a song of communal thanksgiving, probably composed to celebrate some national deliverance. Because of the personal language of verses 13-20, there is some speculation that this psalm was originally two hymns, but as it stands, it contains a combination of corporate and personal prayers, both appropriate in worship.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Acts 17:22--31 (C, E, L)
Schuyler Rhodes
Are you one of those people who always has a backup plan? Do you make your commitments and focus your energies on one thing, but have an alternative in mind just in case things don't work out with the first one? You might call it "Plan B" or something else, but basically you're hedging your bets and covering yourself in case the situation goes south.
Mark Ellingsen
Jesus was still in the middle of his farewell discourse to his disciples. He was trying to comfort the despair that they were feeling when they had first heard the news (during the last supper) that Jesus would be leaving them (John 13:21, 33; 14:1). He had comforted them with the good news that he was on the way to God the Father, that in associating with Jesus, the disciples had been in fellowship with the Father (John 14:6-11). Whoever believed in him, Jesus said, would be able to do the works that he had done, even greater works (John 14:12).
Albert G. Butzer, III
Here are two statements about the world. Tell me if both of them ring true for you. The first of them is this: "The world is a beautiful place." And the second statement is this: "The world is a terrible and dangerous place." Both statements are true - don't you agree? - and yet, ironically, they seem to say the exact opposite thing. How much easier it would be to affirm one statement or the other, but not both.
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
The name Robert Stroud is not one commonly heard in ordinary conversation, but this man's contribution to humanity will live on in the minds of many under a different title, "The Birdman of Alcatraz." By nature, Robert Stroud was not a congenial man. As a youth he was always getting into fights, disagreements, and various altercations. When he was only nineteen he killed a man in a barroom brawl, was convicted of second--degree murder, and was sentenced to the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, since the crime was committed on Federal land.
Richard W. Ferris
In a large stone cathedral in Europe there was a grand, magnificent pipe organ. On a particular Saturday afternoon, the sexton was making one final check of the choir and organ loft high in the balcony at the back of the church. As he was making his inspection, he was startled to hear footsteps echoing up the stone stairway behind him. He thought the doors were all locked and that no one else was in the church. He turned to see a man in slightly tattered traveling clothes coming toward him.
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Acts 17:22-31
Theme: To A Known God

Call To Worship
Leader: God is a known God who continually gives us evidence of presence.
People: God is a knowable God who extends to us the hand of hope.
All: Come, let us worship God. Amen.

Collect
Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
Our Cities Cry To You, O God (PH437)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (PH376, UM384, LBW315, NCH43)
Holy Spirit, Truth Divine (PH321, UM465)
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit (PH398, UM334)
Thy Holy Wings, O Savior (UM502)
Come Down, O Love Divine (LBW508, NCH289, PH313)
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee (OBW492, NCH502, PH357)
My Song Is Love Unknown (LBW94, NCH222, PH76)

Anthems
Praise The Lord, Service Music, Hal Hopson, CGA, Unison 2--part

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Mary Austin
George Reed
For May 10, 2026:

StoryShare

John Fitzgerald
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the classic Little House on the Prairie series neared an end to her
life. At this juncture she penned an essay about hope in face of the constant current of change. Here is an excerpt from that writing: 
Frank Ramirez
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Always Be Ready" by Frank Ramirez
"Looking for God" by Peter Andrew Smith
"A Gentle Profession" by Peter Andrew Smith


What's Up This Week

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
The lessons for the Sixth Sunday of Easter direct us to sermons on the great things God’s love does, appreciating in two cases this love’s cosmic character (especially leading to a stress on justification by grace). This is an appropriate theme with the festival of the Ascension in view, which celebrates Christ’s almighty power and cosmic vindication. 

Acts 17:22-31
William H. Shepherd
Schuyler Rhodes
In Garret Kreizer's novel, God of Beer (2002), the high school social studies teacher tells the class about Gandhi's assertion that if God ever came to India, he'd have to come as bread, in order to get the attention of the starving peasants. The teacher then asks the class what form God would have to take in order to get the attention of their high school. "Beer," says one student. "Yeah," another chimes in, "it's the only thing to do around here."

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

CSSPlus

Hi there, boys and girls! How many of you have rules that you have to follow at home? (show of hands) What are some of the rules you have? (let them tell you) What about at school? Do you have rules there? What are they? (let them tell you)

Why should we even have rules? (see what they think) I think we have rules because it makes it easier for us to be together. If we are all kind to each other, we will all be happier. If there are rules, then maybe people will fight less.

Special Occasion

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